Census: First Family enumerated as delays mar first day of exercise

President Museveni (C) and wife Janet after being enumerated by the executive director of Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Mr Ben Paul Mungyereza (R), at State House, Nakasero yesterday. The President urged all Ugandans to accept to be counted in the on-going census. Photo by Rachel Mabala

Kampala- After being deferred twice, the overdue Population and Housing Census finally kicked off yesterday with the First Family’s household being among the first to be enumerated.

The executive director of Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos), Mr Ben Mungyereza, enumerated President Museveni and his wife, Janet at Nakasero State lodge in Kampala. According to Mr Mungyereza, the enumeration with the President took 45minutes.

Speaking after the enumeration, Mr Mungyereza said: “The atmosphere was cordial and so was the enumeration. He (the President) answered all the questions well and he was very candid.”When asked why the enumeration took 45 minutes instead of an average of half an hour, he said: “There were questions that I needed to explain further, probably that explains why it took all that time.”

Swipe at journalistsIn a light moment, President Museveni told journalists covering his enumeration that his family is now small because he was “abandoned” by his children. Mr Museveni’s children are all married and staying on their own. “This is all (pointing at him and his wife Janet), we have. We have been abandoned. If you want the children, you will get them in their households, homes (family),” Mr Museveni said.

However, not all has gone according to the plan as the national census coordinator, Mr Francis Mashate, had told journalists in a news conference earlier. Enumeration across the country did not start at the anticipated time—between 6-7am.

In some parts of Kampala, especially in Makindye, Kawempe and Nakawa divisions, the exercise started after 9am. The same case was reported in some parts of Masaka, Lyantonde, Arua and Mbarara. The delay was mainly attributed to late delivery of enumeration materials. “The exercise did not kick off at the expected time (6am) due to delay in delivery of materials like pens, rubbers, and chalk,” Mr Deusdedit Arinaitwe, an enumerator in Muwafu Zone, Namuwonge, told Daily Monitor.

Mr Arinaitwe said he started enumerating slightly after 9am and now fears that he may not able to beat his enumeration deadline. Enumerators are expected to count at least 15 households in a day.

The counting exercise had not started by the time our reporter reached the place at midday, leaving most households anxious.

“We have not seen any enumerator around, and we have not even heard of anyone who has been counted in our neighbourhood,” Ms Okissa Anyire, a resident in Namwungo said. The case was no different in Project zone in Wabigalo Parish in Kampala.

In response, Mr Mungyereza said despite the challenges, there have been no major hitches that could badly derail the exercise.

“Being the first day, we expected some challenges but as we proceed, all will be well. We are determined to succeed and we will do all we can to see this exercise successfully,” the Ubos boss said. According to the statistics body, street children, patients in the hospitals, travellers and people in the hotels have already been enumerated.

In Masaka, the enumeration exercise generally began late. In villages such as Kimaanya, Gayaza, Kyabakuza and Mwalo, the census started at about 10.30am instead of the anticipated 8am. The delays were attributed to late coming by some enumerators to pick their working materials.

Religious leaders such as the Bishop of Masaka Diocese, John Baptist Kaggwa and the Bishop of West Buganda Diocese Godfrey Makumbi called for honesty and frankness among their faithful while answering the enumerators’ questions.

District Kadhi Swaibu Ndugga said the government should give religious leaders the results of the census so that they too can plan their work.

In Lyantonde District, there were similar delays in a few areas according to Muhammad Mwesigwa, the district population census officer. He said the exercise began with the enumeration of lunatics and those in transit through the town.